IGNOU opens up to 10 more transgender students in Lucknow

The IGNOU organised an awareness camp on higher education on Friday to attract more members from transgender community at Devraha Ghat behind Hotel Clarks Awadh in Lucknow.

educationUpdated: Jul 29, 2017 17:19 IST

HT Correspondent Hindustan Times, Lucknow

IGNOU has announced exemption of fees for its transgender students of all programmes. (HT Photo)

After getting its first transgender student on July 17, the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Regional Centre, Lucknow, gave admission to 10 more transgenders to its various courses.

The IGNOU organised an awareness camp on higher education on Friday to attract more members from transgender community here at Devraha Ghat behind Hotel Clarks Awadh.

Payal Kinnar, the local head of the community, appreciated the steps taken by IGNOU to provide free education to the transgenders and felt this would bring them in the mainstream of the society and will also empower them.

Earlier this month, the IGNOU announced exemption of fee for its transgender students of all programmes.

Manorama Singh, regional director, informed that the IGNOU was offering free education to jail inmates. Similar opportunity will be provided to the transgender community from July 2017 session.

She said the objective of the camp was to increase the level of awareness among the transgender community members regarding free education being provided by the IGNOU.

She felt the step of the IGNOU will not only democratise higher education, it will also enable transgenders to get education at their door steps.

Kirti Vikram Singh, assistant regional director who was coordinating the event, said those interested in availing the opportunity may take admission by producing any certificate issued by the central or state government, medical officer or any other competent authority or the Aadhaar card.

He said Sudha Kinnar was the first student of IGNOU who took admission in the Bachelor’s Preparatory Programme (BPP).

Ravish Srivastava, executive assistant, informed the last date for taking admission in July 2017 session was July 31. For more information regarding IGNOU programmes, students can visit IGNOU website www.ignou.ac.in.